A child must see a pediatric dentist no later than their first birthday or when their first tooth erupts. Additionally, parents should regularly take their kids to the dentist after their first visit.
Apart from a general checkup and cleaning, a dentist can recommend particular flossing and brushing routine for your child.
For sure, proper oral hygiene, a well-balanced diet, and regular dental visits will help give children a lifetime of healthy habits.
The Distinction Between a Family Dentist and a Pediatric Dentist
Pediatric dentists manage oral health care for children. They usually require 2 to 3 years of specialty training following dental school.
Please take into account that their practice is limited to children only. They are known as primary and specialty dental care providers for patients from infancy through their teenage years, including those that require special health needs.
Aside from these, pediatric dentists have the expertise to deal with problems particular to children, like root canals on adult teeth that have not completely formed and dental developmental difficulties. However, most kids receive checkups and treatments from general dentists.
A general dentist usually has a relationship with the whole family. Hence, these dentists have a profound knowledge base regarding family background, which may apply to the child. You may consider asking your child’s pediatrician what type of dentist they recommend for your child in specific.
How Often Does a Child Need to Visit the Pediatric dentist?
A dental checkup every six months is necessary to ward off dental cavities and other dental complications. A pediatric dentist can discuss how often your child must-visit according to their oral health.
How Risk-free are Dental X-rays?
In reality, there is minimal risk in receiving a dental X-ray. These days, pediatric dentists are careful with limiting the number of radiation kids will receive at the dentist. The good news is that high-speed film and lead aprons are utilized to guarantee safety and reduce the amount of radiation.
How Can Kids Inhibit Damage to Their Teeth?
Children need to rinse their mouth with water after consuming food when they’re away from home. This can help wash away acids and sugar that would otherwise harm the teeth. Encourage kids to drink fountain or tap water at home. Also, consider having your children use a straw when drinking sugary drinks.
Moreover, when you buy bottled water, pick one that is fluoridated. Finally, keep in mind that juice isn’t a good option considering that it is rich in sugar. Some fruit juices include added sugar, despite fruit already being sweet.
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, and making use of regular dental checkups will greatly shield a child’s teeth.
Lastly, if you have any issues or concerns regarding your child’s oral health or looking for some oral care tips, it is best to consult a dentist.
Why Your Children Need Proper Oral Care Now
Oral hygiene must be taught at a young age to ensure children upkeep good oral health practices for a lifetime.
Research proves that maintaining optimal oral health is advantageous to a child’s overall wellness.
Both parents and teachers need to promote oral hygiene habits at home and in the classroom. This consists of educating kids about the best practices to adopt and which ones to avoid.
Specifically, dentists suggest that the appropriate age to start taking better care of a kid’s dental health begins at infancy. Even when a baby’s teeth first begin to develop, parents must learn the value of using gauze and water to gently clean and massage the baby’s gums.
Signs a baby’s teeth are ready to come in might include swollen gums, drooling, and a slight fever. Babies might also frequently touch their teeth and cry more often. And by the time the baby develops a couple of teeth, parents may use a soft-bristled toothbrush and water to brush the baby’s teeth. Brushing your baby’s teeth after eating, before bedtime, and after breast or bottle feeding.
Meanwhile, oral problems can start in the first year of a child’s life, especially if proper care is not taken. At the age of one, or when the first tooth develops, the child is suggested to begin visiting the dentist. Most children develop permanent teeth at about six and a half years old; this is a good age for kids to start developing good oral hygiene habits on their own.
Suitable Dental Health Practice to Teach your Kids:
- Brush at least twice per day for about two minutes using fluoride-based toothpaste. If the child eats something sweet, it is advisable to encourage them to drink water and brush about 30 minutes after eating.
- Floss correctly. This can be taught using repeated demonstrations. If your child can’t use regular string floss, try floss picks.
- Regularly visit the family dentist or pediatric dentist. Moreover, keeping the mouth healthy necessitates more than just home care.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water every day. The amount of water needed daily might depend on your child’s age, weight, height, and level of activity.
- Eat snacks that contain high amounts of calcium to strengthen the teeth.
Valuable guidelines to help children learn and practice proper oral care:
- Games. Parents can encourage good oral hygiene through the help of educational games like word searches and crossword puzzles. Using words like toothbrush, hygiene, teeth, fluoride, plaque, toothpaste, etc. will surely boost knowledge for later recall.
- Visual aids. Have a whiteboard, calendar, or poster as a checklist for your child to fill out every morning and evening after brushing. In so doing, parents can monitor their child’s oral care progress. As a bonus, offer rewards like stickers. Avoid sugary snacks as rewards.
- Creativity and art. For a child to delight in learning about teeth, it is helpful to consider giving a kid a dental coloring book. Allowing your children to get creative and create something personal is suggested to inspire a child to practice dental hygiene habits.
Keep in mind that it may take about 3 years before all the infant teeth erupt in the baby’s gums. Without a doubt, teething may be a challenging time for both parents and their baby. But, in the end, both parents and infants will eventually adjust to good oral health habits in no time.